“MegaDoc” (2025) directed by Mike Figgis / Z-View

MegaDoc (2025)

Director: Mike Figgis

Stars:  Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor Coppola, Talia Shire, Shia LaBeouf, Aubrey Plaza, George Lucas, Giancarlo Esposito, Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Fishburne, Adam Driver  and Jon Voight.

Tagline: The magic and making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis.

The Plot…

Francis Ford Coppola financed his dream project, the movie Megalopolis, with his own money to the tune of $120 – $140 million.  Director Mike Figgis was given complete access to the set and actors from pre-production through the actual filming of the movie.  Figgis and one assistant filmed using a small camera in order to create as little presence as possible.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Going behind the scenes is always interesting to most movie buffs.  I found the pre-production acting exercises that Coppola put the cast through surprising.

Coppola had planned to make Megalopolis for decades.  Particuarly interesting is footage from a 2001 table read that included Robert DeNiro and Uma Thurman.  There is also footage from 2003 featuring Ryan Gosling.

Adam Driver requested his performance not be filmed for the documentary.

There were several scenes of Shia LaBeouf arguing with Coppola about how to stage or play scenes.  If I was the director, putting up my own money, I would have wanted it understood from the start, this will be done my way.

MegaDoc (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.